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“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

1 Corinthians 1:27

Will Gathro makes me feel like a failure. A worthless failure. He’s not trying to make me feel bad, it’s just that he’s not as needy and weak as he’s supposed to be. Couldn’t he act a little more disabled? He should just back off and stop trying to help people. Why does he have to be so thoughtful? Will’s cerebral palsy limits him both mentally and physically and he is unable to speak, but he refuses to let his disability be a a barrier to serving others. We were touched by his most recent act of service. Will and the other residents attend a weekly, special needs cooking class with several other young adults. Some are capable chefs while others, like a certain pair of twin boys, need more substantial assistance. The twins need someone to spoon-feed them. Guess who wanted to help? The same Will Gathro that needs his own food cut and his shoes tied was carefully manipulating a spoon full of chicken-pot-pie into the hungry mouths of his friends. He wasn’t asked, he wasn’t prompted, he was just a willing extension of God’s love and grace.

And this is why I feel so small sometimes. Will and our other residents always go above and beyond my own willingness to serve. Whatever skill, talent or intellect I convince myself I posses, my supposed sophistication pales in comparison to their simple acts of service. When I think of Will feeding the twins I am stung with a sense of God-ordained shame. Paul talks about it in 1 Corinthians (see box above). I am shamed by the fact that my obstacles are few, yet I rarely overcome them to help others. Will’s obstacles are great, but he sees no mountains, only the mole-hills he passes on the way to his friends. The shame is temporary and it spurs me on towards Christ, reminding me of Mark 2 when a mat-bound paralytic was hoisted to a rooftop in the town of Capernaum. There was no access to Jesus that day due to the large crowds, so four creative and determined men tore through the mud and thatch to lower their broken bodied friend to the feet of the Savior.

I used to imagine that I was one of the four men, while Will played the role of the helpless paralytic. Now I understand that he too is one of the loyal friends tearing holes in the roof.

How do you spoon-feed your friends?tear a hole in the roofBy David Heaton, Executive Director

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THECORNERSTONEQUARTERLY

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The reports are in and by all accounts it’s been an exciting quarter here at Cornerstone Ranch. Here are just a few highlights:

• We welcomed our newest resident, Jason, in October. He has transitioned flawlessly to the routines and schedules of life at Cornerstone. Jason has been excited to serve the community by delivering Meals on Wheels because he gets, “To help the nice old people so they have food to eat.” He is an avid sports fan and particularly loves the San Antonio Spurs. We won’t hold that against him.

• The residents started a new job at The Samaritan Inn, Collin County’s only homeless shelter and provider of transitional living. Whether it is helping with mail-outs, organizing donations, or sweeping the sidewalk they are learning to serve those less fortunate than themselves.

• Our staff, David and Doug has been working hard to help start special needs Capernaum Young Life in McKinney. Our residents along with 20 other friends with disabilities have met three times this semester to play games, sing songs and hear about the God that loves them.

• Our Cornerstone family continues to grow, with the addition of David and Cynthia’s new baby boy Miles Mather Heaton. He was born September 1st and weighed in at 7 lbs 5 oz. He has been a joy and delight.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

NewsBrief

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Chef in Training Jason is our newest resident. He comes to us from Dallas and many successful years at the Notre Dame School and Lake Highlands High School. He loves cooking class at Market Street.

Joy Kids are everywhere at Cornerstone. Rylie and Tyler Heaton on the left, Chloe Schulte to the right. Miles Heaton was napping.

We love living in community with the residents and we’re thrilled that our children get to experience such a rich and loving atmosphere. The kids think it is perfectly natural to live with and care for the residents and we know they are learning invaluable lessons. We’ve heard some sweet quotables over the years.

Every time three year-old Rylie Heaton prays, she is sure to thank God for “Mommy, daddy, Tyler, Miles, and the residents.” She considers them a part of our family. One day we joked that a friend should come live with us and Rylie replied, “She can’t live here because she’s not our family like the residents are.”

Tyler Heaton, age 5, summed up our mission statement when we asked him why the residents live here, “Because they’re our friends that need help.” He loves to play pool and soccer with David and Will and refuses to be left out of Uno games with the residents.

Chloe Schulte is only two, but loves doing ballet with the girls and making silly faces at dinner. She always comes downstairs in the evening to tell the residents a simple, “Goodnight.”

What Have You Done For Me Lately?Over the last year the residents at Cornerstone have been serving the community everyday. Here is a glimpse at the impact we had in 2008:

• Delivered over 570 meals and gave approximately 157 hugs to the elderly with Meals on Wheels.

• Stocked 2,304 loaves of bread and sorted 3,360 cans at the

Community Food Pantry to feed over 2,000 hungry individuals.

• Folded 20,160 bulletins for services at Trinity Presbyterian and Community Life Church.

• Recycled 144 bags of plastics and 96 bags of cardboard.

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Please and Thank You There are many ways to get involved at Cornerstone. We would love to host your

church, civic or corporate group for a service project. Individuals and families can make a difference as well. Check out the “Volunteer” tab on our website for more information. www.cornerstone-ranch.com

Please also consider giving financially to Cornerstone. We depend on the support of the community to sustain our ministry to adults with special needs. Help us raise our annual budget by mailing contributions directly or via American Express on our website. We need to raise $61,100 in 2009. Gifts are tax deductible.

We are grateful for all the individuals and organizations that gave so freely of their time and resources this quarter. The following is a partial list of those that cooked meals, cleaned bathrooms, planted flowers, mowed lawns, or served Cornerstone in a much needed way. Thank You.

First Baptist McKinney - Allen Bible Church - Community Life Church - Trinity Presbyterian Church - Olive Garden McKinney - Reid Wakefield - Boy Scout Pack 1222 - Mark and Shannon Breuer - Zack and Diana Alexander - Rachel Ach - Don and Betty Heaton - Phillip Moss - Erik Clausen - Darla Padget - McKinney Young Life - Paul and Vicki Sarvadi - Joe Lundgren - Lowery Crossing Fire Department

Les Castro - Sean Mann - Tom and Diane Edwards

PerspectivesEach newsletter we invite someone in the Cornerstone family to provide their perspective on life at the ranch. This quarter we have staff spouse and Education Specialist, Miranda Schulte, sharing her experiences.

This Fall I have had the privilege of developing the continuing education program here at Cornerstone. Our daily classes are intended to build on the skills our residents learned in high school and to identify and nurture the unique qualities God has given each one of them. This semester we have discussed the election, health and nutrition, emergencies, cooking, and writing. Learning, however, has not been confined to our hour long class time together. Everyday at Cornerstone is a lesson in itself.

My precious friends with special needs continue to teach me to look beyond my own circumstances and toward the needs of others. Galatians 5:13 tells us to "serve one another in love". Living at Cornerstone for the past two and a half years has given me a front row seat to serve in this way. I expected this but I didn't anticipate the blessings I would receive in return.

Everyday I simply walk downstairs from our home into the resident’s living room to a group of friends whose greeting alone can brighten the most difficult of days. Our community on the ranch not only allows us to share life's joys, but also to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) as we walk through life together.

Helping bear a burden is exactly what resident David does each time he inquires about my brothers. He remembers that this summer was a particularly difficult time for me as my twin brother and his family relocated to Greece and one of my younger brothers moved eight hours away for school. God has given David an incredible memory and selfless compassion which is evident every time he asks about my family. He uses both of these gifts to care for and serve others. I am grateful for David and the wonderful example he is of Christ's love and for the many lessons he is teaching me.

I love the class time I get to spend with the residents and I love that they are growing in knowledge and in confidence. But I am even more excited that we are all learning how to live more like Christ as we serve and support one another.

Head of the ClassMiranda has brought a new level of excellence to our daily classes. (left to right) Chloe, Miranda, Amanda, Laura, Cynthia and Rylie.

A Reciprocal RelationshipLaura and the residents know it’s better to give than to receive, but receiving is pretty nice too.

The Resident Rundown Fifteen Favorites: David

My Favorite...1. food when I'm really hungry: Spaghetti and meatballs2. thing about God: He takes care of me3. college team: Michigan Wolverines4. activity we’ve done at Cornerstone: American Idol Concert5. job at Cornerstone: sorting cans at the food pantry6. chore at Cornerstone: Recycling, being the “Trashman”7. fun activity: Hanging out with the guys8. thing about living at Cornerstone: playing with staff kids9. place to go on a vacation: Hollywood, to see movie stars10. Special Olympics sport to play: Basketball11. lesson I've learned at Cornerstone: Shave myself better12. kind of books to get at the library: Train books13. television show to watch: American Gladiators14. local restaurant: Dickies BBQ15. thing about myself: I am smart

En Fuego!David loved trying on the fireman’s suit when the Lowery Crossing Fire Department came out for a visit. He turned on the engine’s siren and even got to spray the hose. David is in his third year at Cornerstone.

3933 CR 317 McKinney, TX 75069

cornerstone-ranch.com

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